Yreka Miners softball: Yreka earns crucial victory at Lassen

Wednesday

May 8, 2013 at 1:11 PMMay 8, 2013 at 1:22 PM

Bill Choy

The Yreka Miners varsity softball team drastically improved its playoff odds with a win against league-leading Lassen on the road Tuesday night.In game two of a Northern Athletic League doubleheader, the Miners surprised the Grizzlies 8-4.Yreka bounced back from a disappointing 10-0 six-inning loss in game one. In that game, the Miners could only dig up a total of two hits for the contestYreka is now 20-12-2 overall and 5-6 in the NAL. Lassen is now 9-2 in the NAL and 24-10 overall.While Yreka is way above .500 overall, the Miners struggles as of late in the NAL, including losing five straight, with three losses to Corning, had hurt the Miners Northern Section playoff points total. In a very tough NSCIF Division 4, Yreka was tied for eighth in the eight-team playoffs with fellow NAL squad Anderson in the playoff point rankings released on Monday. Lassen is currently the team with the second most playoff points.Yreka head coach Ken Dysert believes that foreseeing something unexpected, the win on Tuesday should move the Miners into a playoff berth. If Yreka did not win one of the three remaining games left on the schedule heading into Tuesday's games, Dysert believes they would had likely been denied a postseason berth. The playoff brackets are set to be announced on SaturdayWhen asked the key reason for the win on Tuesday, Dysert replied "We showed up... and finally had some hits.""They played like they're capable of playing," he added.Sophomore pitcher Kendall Moser had a strong performance in game two. She gave up only one earned run and had five strikeouts in the victory. She also went 1-for-4 with a run.Chantell Fraser finished 2-4 with two RBI's and a run. Taylor Brown went 1-for-4 with a triple, two runs and an RBI.Breanna Ruelas finished 1-for-3 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Riva Martin went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Abi Hansen finished 1-4 with an RBI.On Thursday, Yreka concludes the regular season with a home game against Lassen. tThe contest begins at 4 p.m. at the varsity softball field at the high school.Before the start of the game, the two Miners seniors, Martin and Emilie Wagy, will be honored.